Chapter 351: Heading to the Valley of Desolation

Chapter 351: Chapter 350: Heading to the Valley of Desolation

“The Outer Mansion Grand Competition?” Tang Yi was taken aback. This was the first he had ever heard of it.

“Yes. Every year, one month after the House Entrance Examination, our Outer Mansion Eight Palaces hold an Outer Mansion Grand Competition. It’s to assess the strength of the new disciples and, more importantly, to determine the strongest disciple among the Eight Palaces and see which palace is superior! This is a form of competition for us West Mansion Outer Mansion Disciples. Of course, if I’m not mistaken, Tang Yi, you’re the one who ranked second among the examinees, so the Outer Mansion Grand Competition should be no trouble for you at all. Taking first place should be no problem either,” Murong Liu explained, full of confidence in Tang Yi.

“I can participate, but…”

Tang Yi hesitated. He was already a Nine-Star Battle King and would soon advance to the Battle Emperor Level. The disciples of the West Mansion Outer Mansion certainly hadn’t broken through to the Battle Emperor Level, so for Tang Yi to participate in the competition would be like bullying children. It was completely pointless. Participating in the Inner Mansion’s competition would be more like it; at least that would be a challenge.

Besides, killing was forbidden in the West Mansion, which meant no Experience Value. It was both boring and meaningless. Tang Yi had no desire to participate at all.

But out of respect for Murong Liu, Tang Yi didn’t refuse outright.

“But what?” Murong Liu asked, his eyes filled with anticipation. He seemed desperate for Tang Yi to join the competition.

“But…”

Tang Yi had intended to decline tactfully, but seeing the look in Murong Liu’s eyes, he tried several times and just couldn’t bring himself to say it.

‘Dui Palace is already in such a state, and I’ve become their hope for a revival. If even I refuse the request from Murong Liu and the others, they’ll surely be devastated and heartbroken. It would be too cruel. I just can’t do it.’

After some thought, Tang Yi finally decided, ‘Alright, I’ll participate. It’s just a little waste of time…’

‘But just participating is no fun. If I’m going to do this, I might as well go big!’

‘It’s no fun for just me to dominate the Outer Mansion Grand Competition. It’ll only be interesting if the disciples of Dui Palace crush all Eight Palaces! Now that’s a challenge!’

‘A month isn’t short, but it’s not exactly long either. Still, it should be enough time to transform people and raise the overall strength of Dui Palace! It should be doable!’

“Alright, I’ll participate.”

Finally, Tang Yi nodded and said, “However, before the competition, I’d like to go out and train for a bit to increase my strength. I wonder if that’s possible.”

“Going out to train so soon?”

Murong Liu was slightly stunned, but then he recalled Tang Yi’s strength and had a moment of realization. He smiled in satisfaction. “No wonder your strength is so exceptional and you improve so quickly, Tang Yi. On top of your incredible Talent, you’re also this diligent, wanting to go out and train as soon as you’ve arrived at the West Mansion. Of course, going out to train is no problem. Go ahead. Just be back before the competition. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask Master Guo!”

Finally, Murong Liu didn’t forget to ask, “Where are you planning to train?”

“The Valley of Desolation, not far from Celestial Extinction City,” Tang Yi replied.

“What? The Valley of Desolation twenty li away? You’re actually going to such a dangerous place? Even people like us have to be extremely careful when we go in there. A moment of carelessness could be fatal. As for you… it’s not that I don’t trust your strength, it’s just that the place is far too dangerous,” Murong Liu said worriedly.

“Tang Yi, how about you pick another place? About a hundred li to the west, there’s the Doomsday Forest. That place is more suitable for your training,” Pan Borong suggested after a moment of thought.

“There’s also Yuanman Canyon, about one hundred and fifty li to the south. Although it’s also filled with numerous dangerous Demon Beasts, it’s much better than the Valley of Desolation. Tang Yi, you should go there,” Guo Yangyun chimed in from the side.

After that, the Hall Masters and Elders of Dui Palace took turns trying to dissuade Tang Yi from going to the Valley of Desolation, recommending other training grounds instead. Not one of the three Hall Masters wanted Tang Yi to go there.

The Valley of Desolation—its very name spoke of its desolation, giving a glimpse of how dangerous it truly was.

Of course, despite the Valley of Desolation’s extreme danger, the three Hall Masters of Dui Palace only showed this level of concern for Tang Yi. If it were anyone else, who would care where they went to train? Who would care if they lived or died? They could go wherever they pleased!

But Tang Yi was different!

Right now, Tang Yi was Dui Palace’s precious treasure, their greatest asset. The Valley of Desolation was incredibly dangerous; even the Hall Masters of the West Mansion would have to be wary of the Demon Beasts inside. Besides, there were all sorts of other perils aside from the Demon Beasts. If something were to happen to Tang Yi there, how could they ever explain themselves?

How could they be willing to stand by and watch Tang Yi—their hope—walk to his doom?

That was why they didn’t want Tang Yi to put himself in harm’s way. It was better to be cautious and stay safe.

“Thank you for your kindness, all three Hall Masters, but I’ll be fine. What training doesn’t involve danger? If it’s not dangerous, how can you even call it training? Don’t worry, Hall Masters, nothing will happen to me! I’ve long heard that the Valley of Desolation is teeming with Demon Beasts, so I’ve wanted to see it for myself for a while now. I’m not interested in other places at the moment. Besides, the Valley of Desolation is close to the West Mansion. Why should I travel so far to go somewhere else?” Tang Yi replied.

“But…” Murong Liu started to say more, but Tang Yi cut him off.

“Master Muu, I can listen to you on any other matter, but when it comes to training, I think it’s best that I make my own decisions. After all, you are always the master of your own future. If you never take any risks, how can you ever achieve anything? A flower raised in a greenhouse can never withstand a harsh winter. Please, don’t try to persuade me any further. Besides, all the strength I have now was forged through enduring such dangers. There won’t be any problems,” Tang Yi said seriously.

Tang Yi wasn’t lying. Everything he said was the truth. His current strength had indeed been gained by killing Demon Beasts in dangerous Demon Beast Forests. There was even one time he had nearly died at the hands of a Demon Beast. If he hadn’t been lucky enough to level up at the last moment and restore his full health, he might have succumbed to the poison right then and there.

“Well… alright. But be careful, and remember to come back early to prepare for the Outer Mansion Grand Competition.”

Hearing Tang Yi put it that way, what else could Murong Liu say? He could only let Tang Yi go. Who could deny him? Tang Yi was the apple of Dui Palace’s eye.

If anyone else had been so willful, the Hall Masters of Dui Palace would have probably reprimanded and scolded them, forbidding them from leaving. But Tang Yi was different. He was their precious treasure—they couldn’t bring themselves to hit or scold him.

What if they hurt him by hitting him, or pained him with their scolding? In the end, it would be the Hall Masters of Dui Palace who felt the heartache.

“Thank you, all three Hall Masters!” Tang Yi said gratefully.

Afterward, because they were still worried about Tang Yi, Murong Liu and the other two Hall Masters gave him some self-defense items and repeatedly warned him to be careful before finally letting him leave the Outer Hall.

After leaving the Outer Hall, Tang Yi returned to his residence. For three straight days, he stayed behind closed doors, resting and conserving his energy in his courtyard.

On the third day, he finally went to bid farewell to Mu Xianling, Bai Ye, and his brothers and sisters from the Tang Family, telling them he was going on a long trip. Only then did he leave the West Mansion and head for the Valley of Desolation.

When it was time to leave, that girl Tang Shu was extremely reluctant to see him go, clinging to his arm and refusing to let him leave. He had to comfort her for a while and plant a little SMOOCH on her forehead before he could get away.

As for Mu Xianling, seeing Tang Yi about to leave, she wore a look of resentment. Tang Yi didn’t know what she was resentful about. In any case, ever since they returned from the Little Extreme Sacred Land, Mu Xianling had been acting strangely, as if something was weighing on her mind.

However, Tang Yi’s matter was urgent, and he didn’t have time to deal with it. He planned to ask Mu Xianling about it after he got back.

And so, after bidding farewell to everyone, Tang Yi left the West Mansion alone and headed west, toward that land of vicious Demon Beasts—the Valley of Desolation!